Rain tire temp

[Old Wanderer]

Somewhere I have read that when using rain tires you should reprogram your tire warmers for a lower temp.

Normally I run 75c for DOT and Slicks, anybody know what is recomended for rain tires.

Looks like in 10 days I might finally get a chance to try my rain tires on a track.

[Jet City Racer]

Unless there is standing water or steady rain you'll be better off with DOT tires. If you are using rain tires try setting your thermostat to 60C or 140F.

Have fun!

BTW~ Where you going rain riding?

[wood-dude]

I was told by the pirelli distributor at WSMC that you should heat them to 140 -160 F,but then again,you usually lose all heat by the time you get to grid up anyways,but it never hurts in my opinion to have heat in the tires,if anything at least a little peace of mind.where are you planning on using rains?

[Old Wanderer]

Have fun!

BTW~ Where you going rain riding?

I will be at Thunderhill, 4/10-11. Good chance of some rain.

Every since I was sitting in some hotel room last year watching a race in the driving rain and just being amazed at how fast the guys were going and the lean angles they held with the rain tires, I've been wanting to try it.

Went to eBay and bought a set of rain tires with only 2 laps on them I can mount them on my 2nd set of rims, and I have a new set of Racetec K2 mounted on another set I'll put on the bike after this weekend at SOW.

Figure I will raise my pucker factor a bit, as riding in the rain (the little of it I've been unable to avioid till now) has always scared the crap out of me.

I will have fun which ever way the weather turns.

[clarkie49]

I was told by the pirelli distributor at WSMC that you should heat them to 140 -160 F,but then again,you usually lose all heat by the time you get to grid up anyways,but it never hurts in my opinion to have heat in the tires,if anything at least a little peace of mind.where are you planning on using rains?

what you need to do is put your warmers on the rain tires before a practice session, do 1 lap in the rain, pit and see how much heat is left in the tire...

[chameleon672]

Your pucker factor should be raised throught the roof if you are using metzelers at all, Ive never had any decent results with them. I agree with Jet City, you wont get the full results from the rains unless it is really wet on the track.

[Crazy Horse]

Yes, becareful with rain tires. They are outstanding if it is raining and the track is wet. However if the track is drying out the will get greasy within 1 lap and will slide very easily. You need to keep them cool.

[Old Wanderer]

what you need to do is put your warmers on the rain tires before a practice session, do 1 lap in the rain, pit and see how much heat is left in the tire...

Thanks Clarkie, My tire warmers read the temp when I put them on. I will try that .

[MarcV]

It's good to go ahead and use your warmers, if you can turn down the temp to around 140ish. Even if you "loose" the heat when you roll out to the track for your sighting lap you still retain the heat in the core of the carcass, and you should have stabalized your air pressue by that time as well, that's the important thing.

[Old Wanderer]

Well I went ahead today and finalized my stuff for next week.

Bought a new set of Diablo Dragon rain tires, thought about when it starts to dry, and now really don't want to wreck what was an expensive set of tires, studied my Dragon Super Corsa Pro's and decided they were a ticket to a low side in the wet, so bought a 2nd set of tires, Diablo Corsa for the 2nd set of wheels. (damn having "abnormal" fun is expensive). I will put them on my Falco later.

The Pirrelli dealer told me to set the pressure to 34 cold, heat the tires enough so the wheels hold the heat when I pull off the warmers. These are the new front Pirrelli rain design.

Bought a Triumph Chevron rain suit that will go over my leathers, found where I had put my amber fog city shield, and defog treatment, so think I am set.

Right now the weather says rain everyday from now throught the time I am there with a 40% chance of showers on Monday and 60% rain on Tuesday.

I will go out and pull the wheels off the bike and get everything mounted and ballanced on Friday.

Wonder how much longer on a wet track to scuff in the Diablo Corsa?

Sorry for all the posting about what is an every day thing in most parts of the country, but I live in Los Angeles, and it usually only rains a few days a year here.

[clarkie49]

The Pirrelli dealer told me to set the pressure to 34 cold, heat the tires enough so the wheels hold the heat when I pull off the warmers. These are the new front Pirrelli rain design.


when you say Pirelli dealer do you mean race tire vendor or shop where you bought your tires?

[Old Wanderer]

when you say Pirelli dealer do you mean race tire vendor or shop where you bought your tires?


The Race tire vendor "The Racer Supply Shop" in KS. The owner there gave me the info about tire pressure on the Rain tires. Pirelli sponsors him also. He also advised to write down my susspension settings, and then soften up for the rain tires.

If you have any different advise Clarkie, I like to hear it, cause this rain stuff is all new to this desert guy.

[clarkie49]

ah you got them off Shane Styko (spell?), I just saw you location (LAX) and wondered if you got them from a local shop out there.

yeah 32-34 sounds about right for the rains, when he says soften tjhe suspension up just make the bike kinda 'springy' so when you get on the gas or have a moment the suspension takes it up rather than the tire. I usually dont touch my spring preload and just take a lot of the compression and rebound out (make it faster)

[Old Wanderer]

Well got everything mounted, and the Diablo supercorsa's back on the bike.

Those Diablo Rains just look like they will hold throught everything. (I thought they were Dragon rains but the side says Diablo rain).

I talked to Dave Moss and he will be at the track when I arrive and help me with the suspension set-up for the rain.

Watching the forecast they expect 1/4" Sunday, with showers Monday, and Rain again on Tuesday. Figure I will either come back a smoother rider, or gimping home :WTF:

Anything I can do to weatherproof the leathers?

[lawman800]

Heard rain tires work at about 30-40F lower than dot race tires, that is at about 130F or so compared to 160-170F for the dot tires.

[No Quarter]

I was going to reply to this...

But that girl above is breaking my concentration...

I can almost see her...

Uh.... Oh yeah, rain tires.

Living, riding and racing here in the great northwest we get a fair amount of rain tire testing. To be quite honest I have never used tire warmers in the rain, and although I'm by no means one of our clubs really fast guys I hold my own in the twins classes and usually have good results in the rain (Other than crashes...)

Recently shamed 6 (yeah 6) 749r's in the rain with my 83rwhp sv650 for a hard fought 3rd place. Diced with #428 Brad Haley and his 120rwhp Buell for the whole race and almost got him for 2nd place formula thunder.

The rains work excellent when the track is wet, they can last for several races, but once it is dry they cook off within 1 lap and while you can still hold a decent pace they are garbage after the race.

I run Pirellis and run whatever pressure Josh recommends (32-34psi depending on conditions)

I won't race my Factory in the rain (to much $$$$ to repair) so I just go out with my little ol'e SV and still get top 5 finishes.

[lawman800]

Speaking of which, anyone want to buy a set of SV650 rims with fresh rain tires mounted on them? Never used and not too useful to me in SoCal. If it rains, I ain't racin'.

[Old Wanderer]

Well I'm back from the "great rain expriment". Monday was cool but dry, but Tuesday awoke to a steady rain. Went out to the pits and mounted my rains and checked everything over. Reset the suspension for the rain tires...I am ready:)

BUT we were delayed,,,,,,and delayed.....and at noon they anounced the track was flooded and closed....:WTF: :tired:

Well so much for us California guys riding in the rain. I was the only one out of 75 bikes that even had rain tires. One AMA racer that was there told me he raced all weekend last year on the same type Pirelli tires I had and had a great time.

So now I have a brand new set of rain tires, and no where to ride them.

Maybe in the fall at Laguna???:confused: